Badly Needed Inspiration

I've been slacking lately.

I've lacked motivation.

I've lacked inspiration.

I've lacked the ability to get off the couch for anything other than going to the kitchen for a snack.

However, it's a new week and I'm determined to take some steps to get back on track.

First step I took was to head to Pinterest for some inspiration...

Source: etsy.com via Megan on Pinterest

Second step is tackling the wreck that is my house. I hate to clean, I really do. Since I live alone, I don't have the pressure to clean it except for when I'm expecting company. Maybe I just need to start inviting people over EVERY weekend. That might just do the trick...

In the meantime, I'm going to start a weekly to do list of household chores. Maybe writing them down and checking them off will provide the accountability that I obviously need.

One of the items on the household chores to do list is going to be doing one of these a week...

Source: littlelucylu.com via Megan on Pinterest

I live surrounded by clutter and I think if I tackle it slowly and methodically, I may just beat it!

Third, I need to start eating better (more regularly and a bit healthier) and exercising in some sort of consistent manner.

I can go a day with only drinking my morning Starbucks peppermint mocha (yes, I drink this ALL year round) and some water. This only leads to bad thing the next day...like headaches.

I've actually started this one already by grabbing a bag of baby spinach the last time I hit the grocery store. I do NOT like salad at all except if it's a spinach salad and then I'm game. To keep the spinach from just sitting in the fridge, I also hard-boiled some eggs and cut them up, fried up some bacon and crumbled it AND bought some Craisins (thanks Ginny over at Gin & Juicy Juice for the inspiration) to keep on hand this week so I can easily whip up a salad for lunch or dinner.

Now when it comes to the exercising regularly, I struggle - big time. I try to remember this...

Source: diethoroscopes.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

But it doesn't always help. Some of my friends are The Couch-to-5K Running Plan but I don't know if I want to start running...my pants aren't THAT tight!

No matter whether I start a regular exercise regimen or just get myself off the couch to run the vacuum, I think it all comes down to remembering this...

Source: stumbleupon.com via Megan on Pinterest

Weekend in NYC

Remember my Dreams of NYC post?

The one where I was going to experience the city so well-portrayed by my favorite television shows?

I NEVER FOUND Central Perk, though I did find a bakery and had these for breakfast one morning.

Crumbs

Don't worry about the calories consumed. We split the two cupcakes between four girls...and we walked 6 miles that day! The White Hot Chocolate cupcake on the left was DELICIOUS. 

I NEVER FOUND McLaren's Bar but we did have some wonderful cocktails at Stecchino in Hell's Kitchen .

I may have had one or two French 75's!

I NEVER DID karaoke in a bar with my posse but we did catch a Broadway Show!

One thing I DID do that was on my list was visit Mood - the fabric store from Project Runway!

Don't you just love just love what they did with some orange tulle?

Despite an early cold spell and rain and SNOW, we had a great time in the city and I'm even more determined to go back. This time I'm planning a late spring/early summer trip though!

Hooking up with Kelly's Korner - Show Us Your Life Non-Mommy Bloggers!

Wrapping Up Corn Harvest 2011

As my dad, brother-in-law and uncle (that's right three families supported by our family farm) finish up corn harvest 2011, I thought I would reflect back on a pretty October day when captured some classic harvest shots.

I actually shot the first two photos a day or two earlier as a storm rolled in. We haven't had great weather this year so dad pulled out a corn reel (I think that's what it's called) just in case he had some downed corn (corn stalks that fell over due to wind and shallow root systems).

I decided to capture shots of the combine moving down the field while trying to stay away from the dust...

Then I snapped a some shots of the corn being unloaded.

First into the grain cart...

Then out of the semi trailer and...

into the grain bin!

If I'm lucky, I might squeeze out one more ride in the combine tomorrow night but I'm not getting my hopes up...those pesky nephews usually have priority over me!

The Trip that Keeps on Giving

Remember my trip to Kelsay Farms a couple weekends ago?

The one when my nephews had a GREAT time in the giant corn box.

The one when my floor was covered in corn kernels once we returned home.

Here's an update on where I have found corn kernels in the two weeks AFTER our trip to the farm.

1. The backseat of my car.
2. The guest bathroom.
3. The rocking chair in my living room.
4. Underneath my kitchen table.
5. In my couch cushions.
6. And I'm guessing many more places in the days to come!

Oh well, the boys had a great time at the Kelsay Farms so it's worth the extra clean-up. There's still one weekend left to experience the farm. Visit Kelsay Farms website for hours and a list of activities.

Some Random Wednesday Loves

I'm loving that my sweet niece, JJ, turned 1 early this month and totally rocked her birthday cake (and the ponytail).

I'm loving Tastefully Simple beer bread...finished off a half of a loaf all by my lonesome yesterday!

via

I'm loving this view, don't you just want to be in one of those chairs right now?

I'm loving that I'm headed to NYC soon!

via

Linking up to WILW over at this kind of love.

You Say Fall and I Say Harvest Time

My dad is a farmer, I think I've mentioned that before.

Actually, I did a search for "dad" on my blog and found 32 posts where I mentioned my dad.

I also did a search for "chocolate" and found 32 posts where I mentioned chocolate.

Hmmm...I wonder what that means.

Sorry, back to the regularly scheduled post...

Soybean harvest started a few weeks ago and I hitched a ride in the combine with my dad after work one evening.

My all-time favorite sight - soybeans ready for harvest. 

 Here comes my ride!

View from the jump seat. 

View out the front of the combine cab. 

Unloading soybeans.

Good-bye Dad and be careful out there!

Coming soon...corn harvest!

Things I Have Overheard

Source: None via Megan on Pinterest

"Rory, like the Gilmore Girls," says a guy as he introduces his girlfriend.

Source: None via robo13 on Pinterest

"You have such a big beak. Isn't that what all guys want to hear?" says a woman talking to a parrot sitting on her arm when someone told her to talk dirty to it so the parrot would look at her.